Replanting attachment for cultivators.



R. A. JOHNSON.

REPLANTING ATTACHMENT FOR CULTIVATOfiS. APPLICATION FILED mus. 191s.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

R. A. JOHNSON.

REPLANTING ATTACHMENT FOR CULTIVATOR$.-

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8. m5.

mam? Patented July 24,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. A. JOHNSON. REPLANTING ATTACHMENT FOR CULTIVATORS.

A'PPLICATION FILED JAN-8. I915. Patented July 24,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

RALPH A. JOHNSON, OF CALDWELL, IDAHO.

REPLANTING ATTACHMENT FOR CULTIVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2a, 1.917.

Application filed January 8, 1915. Serial No. 1,181.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH A. J onNsoN, citizen of the United States, residing at Caldwell, in the county of Canyon and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Replanting Attachments for Cultivators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a replanting attachment for cultivators and particularly cultivators of the riding type.

The object of the invention is to provide a device susceptible of general application in connection with cultivators whereby, during the initial cultivation of corn, the seed may be dropped at a predetermined point and automatically replanted to in this manner offset an otherwise poor and unsatisfactory crop.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, of an ordinary riding cultivator illustrating the application of the present invention in connection therewith 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the replanting attachment;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the attachment;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2, the opposite side of the attachment being in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view; and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6. 7

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the main frame, 2 the adjustable frame, 8 the teeth, and 4 the control lever of an ordinary riding cultivator, the connection between the lever 4 and the adjustable frame 2 being shown at While my attachment is particularly adapted for use in connection with an ordinary riding cultivator of the type shown, it is to be understood that the device may be readily used in connection with all cultivators of a standard or accepted type.

My improved replanting attachment in ts preferred embodiment includes a bodily movable vertically disposed delivery chute 6 and a relatively stationary support there for. The support, as shown, comprises an attaching plate 7, a plurality of lovers 8 and spaced retaining blocks 9, the latter, the blocks 9 being adapted to directly engage the frame 2 of the cultivator whereby to mount the attachment thereon, its connectlon being such in its nature as to provide for adjustment longitudinally of the frame. Bolts 10 serve as a direct or immediate fastening means.

One of the levers 8, to be hereinafter referred to as the operating lever, is somewhat elongated, and, as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 1, is curved intermediate its ends to terminate at a point in adjacent proximity to the seat of the cultivator, such arrangement, as will hereinafter appear, subjecting the replanting attachment to foot control. The operating lever has been designated 11 and the pedal mounted thereon designated 12. The levers 8 are at all times maintained in substantially parallel relation and arranged in pairs. As shown, there are preferably three pairs of levers, the innermost pair including the operating lever 11. The remaining pairs of levers are arranged, one pair upon each side of the delivery chute 6, the lower lever of each pair being somewhat extended whereby to form a stop means to limit movement of the device. The lower lever of each pair is pivoted as at 13 to the chute 6, the pivot pin therefor operating within a suitable slot 14 formed in the eX- tended portion thereof.

A longitudinally grooved or channeled stationary blade 15 is mounted at the lower end of the chute 6, the blade being ailiXed to the chute by any suitable means. A second and relatively movable blade 16 is pivoted as at 17 adjacent the first mentioned blade, the two blades forming, when in engagement, a tubular pointed implement which is adapted to penetrate the soil upon forced movement of the device or attachment relatively to its support or to the cultivator frame.

Blades 15 and 16 are normally maintained in engaging proximity. To move the blade 16 relatively to the stationary blade, it is but necessary to bodily move the chute. An adjustable ground engaging contact 18 is adapted to be secured as at 19 to and between parallel arms 20 in turn pivoted as at 21, one arm upon each side of the lower terminal of the chute. As the contact member 18 is moved into engagement with the ground, it is evident that upward pressure is exerted on the arms 20 and, as the arms are connected to the blade 16 through the medium of the links 22 and the lugs 23, (the connection being pivotal in its nature) an upward pull is exerted on the lugs 23, such action causing the blade 16 to move on its pivot and relatively to the blade 15.

A vertically movable slide bar 24 is arranged to operate upon the rear face of the chute, said bar fitting a groove or channel 25 therefor. Bar 2a may be engaged at times by a lug 26 rigidly connected to the arms 20, such engagement causing said bar to move upwardly immediately subsequent to the engagement of the contact 18 with the ground. Normally horizontal and opposed arms 27 are pivoted to the slide mem ber 24: at a point adjacent its lower end and to the rear of the chute at points 24, the respective arms acting as supports for a bracket 28 pivoted to the chute as at 29 and carrying a roller 30 at its free end. Bracket 28 is movable with the chute until the arms 27 have been moved at an angle to the horizontal through upward movement of plate 241 in the manner before mentioned. As the arms 27 thus move, it is evident that the bracket 28 will be unsupported and, through the agency of springs 31, forcibly moved into engagement with the soil. The springs.

31 are arranged to embrace rods 32 disposed one upon each side of the chute and to connect the extended portion of the lower levers 8 and the respective arms of the bracket 28. A lug or abutment 33 is formed on each arm of the bracket, the rods 32 passing therethrough. The springs 31 abut at their respective terminals the lugs 33 and disks 3st mounted, one on each of the rods 32. Springs 31, as before suggested, at all times exert a downward pressure on the bracket 28.

A second set of opposed arms 35 are pivoted to the slide member 24:, and to the chute 6, the second set being situated at a point adjacent the upper end of the slide and normally disposed at an angle to the horizontal, the said arms being of such length as to extend beyond the respective longitudinal sides of the chute when said slide has been raised through action of the ground contact member 18. When thus extended beyond the sides or over the edges of the chute it is evident that the lower levers 8 will contact with said arms 35 to lower the slide, assuming, of course, that pressure on the pedal 12 is relieved (to reposition the support arm 29 again beneath the bracket arms 28) thereby again releasably locking the roller 30 out of contact with the ground.

Proceeding now with a description of the feed control means, I desire to call attention to the container 36 mounted at the upper end of the chute 6, said container being open to a channel 37 extending throughout the length of the chute and to a closure formed by the blades 15 and 16. Seeds may be dropped or fed to the channel 37, one at a time through manipulation of a control rod 38 connected to a disk 39 mounted in the receptacle or container and provided with an opening a0 of such size as to receive a grain of corn and to deliver the same to the channel 37 upon rotation of the plate. Tension of spring etl is greater than the combined strength of the roller operating springs 31.

A return spring 11 is connected at one end to the cultivator frame 1 and at its opposite end to the control or operating lever 11, the said spring exerting an upward pull on the lever to return the device again to its normal elevated position immediately subsequent to the replanting of a seed.

In operation, and upon first cultivation of the grain or corn, it is often necessary (when it is desired that a full crop be produced) to stop and replant corn or grain in various spots. It is to facilitate this replanting that the present invention is designed. During cultivation, and when it is desired that a grain of corn be planted, it is but necessary to exert pressure on lever 11 against tension of spring 11, such pressure bodily moving the chute 6 forcibly into engagement with the ground. As the said chute comes in contact with the ground, the blades 15 and 16 penetrate the soil in the desired mannerand to the required depth or until contact member 18 actuates the arm 20 and consequently moves the blade 16. As the blade 16 is moved, the seed within the closure formed by the heretofore contacting blades 15 and 16 will be expelled therefrom. The movement of the arm 20 will also elevate slide 2 1 and cause bracket 28 carrying the roller 30 to be released and forcibly moved into engagement with the ground through the action of the springs 31. The roller having been thus moved into engagement with the ground, it is evident that the pressure on lever 11 may be withdrawn. By removing pressure from the lever 11, the springs a1 (being greater than the combined strength of the springs 31) will elevate the chute 6 bodily out of contact with the soil, the lower levers 8, in moving the chute, coming in contact with the pivoted arms 35 which, through upward sliding movement of the lever 24-, have been extended beyond the-side's of said chute. The engagement between the lower levers 8 and the arms 35 will cause the slide member 2% to be lowered, such movement of the slide again repositioning the arms 27 beneath the bracket arms 28 to support the bracket and the roller carried thereby in an elevated position. Bracket 28 is removed or returned to its normal position through the action of the rods 32.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be noted that the replanting operation is positively automatic and that the operation of the device is secondarily controlled by the engagement of the contact 18 with the ground.

In the drawings, a link 42 is shown as connected to the innermost pair of levers 8, the link maintaining the said levers in the desired parallel relation. A pin 43 is also shown, the pin being in engagement with the extended portion of the lower lever 8 to serve as an abutment therefor.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efiicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a replanting device, a chute movable bodily in a vertical plane, blades movable with the chute into and out of penetrating engagement with the soil, means movable with the chute into and out of engagement with the soil, said last mentioned means operating automatically to move one of the blades relatively to the other subsequent to a mentioned penetration, a bracket movable with and relatively to the chute, means on the bracket to cover the opening formed by the mentioned penetration of the soil, and means to control the movement of the bracket relatively to the chute.

2. In a replanting attachment for cultivators, blades movable bodily into and out of penetrating engagement with the soil, a member engageable with the soil to move one of the blades relatively to and away from the other, a ground engaging seed covering element, normally elevated and movable into and out of engagement with the soil, means controlled through movement of said member to move said seed covering element into engagement with the soil, and means operating automatically to return the seed covering element to normal position out of engagement with the soil and to move the blade slightly in advance thereof.

3. In a replanting attachment for cultivators, a container for the seed to be planted comprising a pair of blades, means to move the blades as a unit into and out of penetrating engagement with the soil, a member engageable with the soil to move one of the blades relatively to the other, means to deliver the seeds, one at a time to the container, a support for the blades having a slide member movable longitudinally thereof, a closure device pivoted to the support, the device being movable therewith and relatively thereto, means actuatable to move the support, a connection between the member and the slide, means mounted on the slide to normally support the closure device against relative movement, spring means operating automatically to move the closure device subsequent to actuation of the slide, and means mounted on the slide to move the lock means for the closure device again in position to maintain said device against relative movement, as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a replanting attachment for cultivators, a chute movable toward and away from the ground, foot operated means for depressing the chute, blades on the chute for penetrating the ground, one of the said blades being fixed, the other movable rela tive thereto, means normally elevated and engageable with the ground when the chute is depressed to move the movable blades to permit the ejectment of seed, aground engaging seed covering element mounted on the chute, means for releasably retaining the elements in elevated position, resilient means acting simultaneously to urge said element toward a depressed position and to retain the chute in elevated position, means operable by the second mentioned means for releasing said retaining means whereby the elements may engage the ground, and means operable by said releasing means for returning the second mentioned means to normal position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH A. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

Jonson H. ELSTON, WILLIAM H. LAWRENCE.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

